Preventive Maintenance Tips for your Home-Part 6
By Rocky Fremin of Freminshomeimprovement.com

Welcome back to Rocky’s Corner! Last month we started Part 5 of an 8 part series of Preventive Maintenance Tips for your Home.  This month we will begin with Part A - tips for Spring.

Every Spring-Part A

      APPLIANCES:

• Vacuum coils under or behind refrigerators and freezers.

      AIR CONDITIONING UNITS: Central Air Conditioning

• Make sure the condensing unit located outside is not covered up with leaves, newspaper, etc. 

• Change or clean the filters regularly.

• Be sure all access panels are secure, with all the screws in place.

• Set the thermostat in the cooling mode.

• Run your air conditioner for a few minutes now, before you need it.

• Schedule a maintenance call before it gets hot to have a technician check the following items:

1. Check for proper refrigerant (Freon) levels.  A low level indicates a leak, to be found and repaired before adding Freon. 

2. Check all electrical components and controls.

3. Clean evaporator and condenser coils, as needed.

4. Oil motors as needed.

5. Calibrate thermostat.

6. Check condenser for cracks.

7. Check filters.

      AIR CONDITIONING UNITS: Evaporative Air Conditioning

• Clean unit; check belt tension and adjust if necessary; replace cracked or worn belt.

• Clean or replace air filter; clean condenser or evaporator coils and condensate drain; remove debris from outdoor portion of unit.

      AIR CONDITIONING UNITS: Wall and Window Air Conditioning

• Have your unit checked out to make sure it is working properly before you need it.

• Clean dirt, insects and debris from the grills and cooling fins.

•  Replace dirty filters.

      ATTIC:

• Make sure all your gable, soffit, and ridge vents are open to allow proper ventilation.

• Make sure insulation covers the entire attic floor; look into hiring a professional to add more to meet recently updated building codes and reduce future cooling and heating costs.

• Check to make sure your attic and/or whole house fans are working properly; consider installing attic or whole house fans. 

      CARBON MONOXIDE AND SMOKE DETECTORS:

• Change batteries and check to make sure they are operating properly.  

      CAULKING AND GROUT:

• Inspect caulking and grout around tubs, showers and sinks; considering replacing if necessary.

      CLEAN CARPETING:

• Have your carpets cleaned regularly to remove the dirt and grit that can wear them out prematurely.

      DOOR SILLS, WINDOW SILLS, AND THRESHOLDS:

•    Fill cracks, caulk edges, repaint; replace if necessary.

     DRAIN-WASTE AND VENT SYSTEMS:

•    Flush out system.

     HEAT PUMP:

• Lubricate blower motor.

• If you didn’t have an annual check-up done last fall, schedule one now to have a certified professional to inspect the wiring, check belts (replace if needed), and oil the moving parts. 

HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM:

• Lubricate circulating pump and motor.

PEST CONTROL:

•  Termites can cause thousands of dollars worth of property damage before the homeowner even realizes they have an infestation and other pests can threaten your family members and pets with bites and diseases.

• Contact a pest control specialist for a free inspection and evaluation of your risk; and for hiring a regular service to keep your home free of all pests; including insects and rodents.

SCREENS FOR WINDOWS AND DOORS:

•  Clean screening and repair or replace if necessary; tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint if necessary, replace broken, worn or missing hardware; tighten and lubricate hinges and closers.

WATER HEATER:

•   Every six months you should turn off the power source and drain it completely until it is clear of sediment.

•  Also inspect flue assembly (gas heater); check for leaks and corrosion.

ANTENNA:

•   Check antenna and satellite dish supports for possible leak source.

BASEMENT AND FOUNDATION:

•   Check grading for proper slope away from foundation wall.

•  Inspect for cracks and moisture and repair if necessary.

DECKS, PORCHES AND EXTERIOR WOOD STRUCTURES:

• Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs and railing for loose members and deterioration, such as cracks, splintering, decay, and insect damage; treat wood, set nails and repair or replace rotted boards, as needed.    

•  If professionally cleaned, sealed and maintained, it should only be necessary to refinish and/or stain your wooden decks every two or three years.

•  It is also necessary that surfaces be thoroughly cleaned and dried before adding another coat of stain or protective finish.

•  Remove mold and mildew, fungus, tree sap, grease and bird droppings with the appropriate commercial deck cleaners (or homemade mixtures) and a stiff brushed broom.

•  Clean mildew and fungus by mixing one cup of chlorine bleach per gallon of water; scrub and rinse well.

• Sodium bicarbonate works well to remove dirt, mildew and the weathered gray residue from sunlight degradation.

• Oxalic acid will remove metal stains around nails and dark tannin stains often found on redwood, cedar and oak. 

• Use care and follow manufacturers’ directions when using these products, wear eye protection, long pants, long sleeves and gloves; cover surrounding vegetation with plastic and rinse well.

DRIVEWAY CRACKS:

•   For asphalt, remove dirt and weed debris from cracks, spray with a high-pressure hose sprayer; treat with weed killer and patch with a special patching product.  

• For concrete, the only alternative for cracked driveways and garage floors used to be removal and replacement, but these days there are overlayments that may be professionally applied to cover surface cracks as long as the concrete is still structurally sound. 

Join me next month for Part 7 of our series on Preventive Maintenance Tips for your Home.

Visit us at www.freminshomeimprovement.com

  Article: Preventive Maintance tips for your home.  by Rocky Fremin Ó 2005